SD Prep Sports

SD Prep Sports: Track & Field

Metro Conference report

MV's Swier takes it easy on South Bay League opponents

By Phillip Brents

CHULA VISTA, May 9, 2003 — Mar Vista High junior Troy Swier won handily in both the mile and two-mile distances at Friday’s South Bay League track and field finals, though his times were well off his section-leading marks.

But that’s fine for now. Swier — who received honors as the South Bay League’s Male track Athlete of the Meet — has a score to settle in the upcoming weeks as the road narrows toward the state finals in Cerritos.

Swier’s 4:17.92 leads the section in the 1600 meters. His 9:15.69 mark in the 3200 ranks seventh in the state.

The Mariner distance king won his third South Bay League title in the mile in 4:32.33. His winning time in the two-mile distance Friday at Castle Park High School was 10:03.43. The title in the longer distance was also his third in league competition.
Swier took high seeds into last year’s San Diego Masters finals only to finish out of the running for the state meet.

Postseason competition heats up May 24 with the San Diego Section divisional prelims at Poway High School. The state qualifying tournament follows the next Saturday at the same site.

“We’re doing more speed work, more leg turn over, more 200s, 150s and 100s (for final kick) and staying with the plan,” Mar Vista distance coach Benny Holt said.
Swier finished fourth in last year’s Masters 1600 meters and sixth in the 3200 meters. He was seeded first in the 1600 and second in the 3200. The top three finishers at the Masters meet advance to the state meet.

“The week before at the CIF finals, he ran his PR at 4:18.9. At Masters he had a respiratory problem. It just wasn’t his day,” Holt said.

Swier ranks just outside the top 10 milers in the state. The goal, Holt said, is to work toward a 4:12 time in the distance. Swier finished sixth in his division at last fall’s state cross country title.

“We’re working to keep improving, keep those times coming down,” Holt said.

Castle Park junior LaQuisha Rodgers received honors as the 2003 South Bay League Female track Athlete of the Meet after winning both the 100- and 200-meter distances.

Rodgers edged teammate Tasha Johnson to win both sprint titles. Rodgers timed 13.1 to win the 100 and 27.1 to win the 200. Johnson timed 13.6 in the shorter sprint distance and 27.7 in the longer sprint distance.

Both field Athlete of the Meet awards went to Southwest throwers: Fred Smith in the boys meet and Stephanie Brunson in the girls meet. Smith won the shot put (50-4.5) and discus (136-10); Brunson took the shot put (28-3.5) and discus (90-1.5).

Doubling in individual events were Jameela Alneyadi in the girls 880 (2:39.4) and mile (5:54), Southwest’s Boca Ramos in the girls 330 low hurdles (51.0) and long jump (15-7.5) and Mar Vista’s Mahta Yemane in the boys high jump (6-2) and 880 run (2:07.7).

Individual boys winners included Marian Catholic’s Alex Ballesteros (100, 11.7) and Mickey Pimentel (220, 24.3), Mar Vista’s Kevin Knox (440, 53.2), Hilltop’s B.J. Roberson (110 high hurdles, 16.1), Castle Park’s Rudy Salazar (330 hurdles, 43.2) and J.R. Smith (triple jump, 43-10.5) and Hilltop’s Chris Wessel (long jump, 22-3).

Besides Swier, Mahta (high jump) and Salazar (330 hurdles) also repeated as league titleists.

Wessel finished second in the high jump (5-10) while Pimentel was second in the 100 (11.8). CP’s Smith continued the string of standout performances with a second place-finish in the long jump (21-9).

In girls events, Southwest’s Sonia Contreras was second in both the shot put (26-7.5) and discus (88-0). Also for the South Bay League champion Raiders, Adria Slender took first in the two-mile 14:24.3) while finishing second in the mile (5:54).